The honours system in the Republic of Austria is a means of rewarding individuals' personal achievement, or service to Austria by state decorations and medals.
The system consists of several types of award which were established by the National Council (Austria) and are conferred by the President of Austria in accordance with the respective laws.[1]
History
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Over time, the National Council of Austria has enacted a series of laws establishing the various decorations and medals which now make up the Austrian honours system. Among these were
- in 1952, the "Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria" (Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich)[1] -- awarded in 15 classes.
- in 1955, the "Austrian Decoration for Science and Art" (Österreichisches Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft und Kunst)[1] -- awarded in 3 classes.
- in 1976, the "Decoration for Services to the Liberation of Austria" (Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Befreiung Österreichs)[1] -- awarded in 1 class.
- in 1989, the "Military Merit Decoration" (Militärverdienstzeichen)[1] -- awarded in 1 class.
Precedence
[edit]Note: this list is not complete
The order of precedence of the decorations and medals in the current Austrian honours system is:
- Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria ( ... für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich)
- Grand Star (Groß-Stern des Ehrenzeichens für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich).[2]
- Grand Decoration in Gold with Sash (Großes Goldenes Ehrenzeichen am Bande für ... ).[2]
- Grand Decoration in Silver with Sash (Großes Silbernes Ehrenzeichen am Bande für ... ).[2]
- Grand Decoration in Gold with Star (Großes Goldenes Ehrenzeichen mit Stern für ... ).[2]
- Grand Decoration in Silver with Star (Großes Silbernes Ehrenzeichen mit Stern für ... ).[2]
- Austrian Decoration for Science and Art (Österreichisches Ehrenzeichen für Wissenschaft und Kunst).[2]
- Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
- "Austrian Decoration for Military Merit" (Österreichisches Militärverdienstzeichen).[2]
- Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, First Class (Österreichisches Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst, Erste Klasse).[2]
- Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
- Grand Decoration (Großes Ehrenzeichen für ... ).[2]
- "Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art" (Österreichisches Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst).[2]
- Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria
- Decoration for Services to Austria's Liberation (Ehrenzeichen für Verdienste um die Befreiung Österreichs).[3]
- Merit Badge of the Republic of Austria (Verdienstzeichen der Republik Österreich)
- Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria (Medaille für Verdienste um die Republik Österreich)
- Gold Medal (Goldene Medaille für ... ).[3]
- The "Gold Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria" may also be conferred as "Gold Medal with Red Riband" when awarded for bravery during an act of lifesaving.[3]
- Silver Medal (Silberne Medaille für ... ).[3]
- Bronze Medal (Bronzene Medaille für ... ), which is no longer awarded.[3]
- Gold Medal (Goldene Medaille für ... ).[3]
- Austrian Olympic Medal 1964 (Österreichische Olympiamedaille 1964)[4]
- Austrian Olympic Medal 1976 (Österreichische Olympiamedaille 1976)[4]
- Federal Honor Decoration (Bundes-Ehrenzeichen)[4]
- Mine Rescue Medal (Grubenwehrehrenzeichen)[4]
- Military Recognition Medal (Militär-Anerkennungs-medaille)[4]
- Wound Medal (Austria) (Verwundetenmedaille)[4]
- Wound Medal for the Bundesheer, 1st class (Verwundetenmedaille 1. Klasse)[4]
- Wound Medal for Law Enforcement, 1st class (Verwundetenmedaille 1. Klasse der Exekutive)[4]
- Wound Medal for the Bundesheer, 2nd class (Verwundetenmedaille 2. Klasse)[4]
- Wound Medal for Law Enforcement, 2nd class (Verwundetenmedaille 2. Klasse der Exekutive)[4]
- Austrian Armed Forces Operations Medal (Einsatzmedaille des Österreichischen Bundesheeres)[4]
- Austrian Armed Forces Operations Medal for Military Defence (Einsatzmedaille gem §2 Abs.1 lit. a WG militärische Landesverteidigung)[4]
- Austrian Armed Forces Operations Medal for Operations Abroad (Einsatzmedaille gem §2 Abs.1 lit. d WG Einsätze im Ausland)[4]
- Austrian Armed Forces Operations Medal for Public Order Operations (Einsatzmedaille gem §2 Abs.1 lit. b WG Einsätze im Inneren)[4]
- Austrian Armed Forces Operations Medal for Natural Disasters (Einsatzmedaille gem §2 Abs.1 lit. c WG Elemetarereignisse, etc)[4]
- Law Enforcement Merit Decoration (Exekutivdienstzeichen)[4]
- Military Service Award (Wehrdienstzeichen)[4]
- Military Service Medal (Wehrdienstmedaille)[4]
- Militia Medal (Milizmedaille)[4]
- Covid-19 Commemorative Medal (Covid-Erinnerungsmedaille)[4]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Hofburg Archived 2009-02-16 at the Wayback Machine: Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Hofburg: Decoration (English) Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine; Ehrenzeichen (German). Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Hofburg: Ehrenzeichen (German). Archived 2011-09-27 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Bundesauszeichnungen und militärische Auszeichnungen". Bundesministerium für Landesverteidigung und Sport. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
References
[edit]- Poul Ohm Hieronymussen, Poul Ohm. (1967). Orders and Decorations of Europe in Color. New York: Macmillan. OCLC 796549
- Werlich, Robert. (1965). Orders and Decorations of All Nations: Ancient and Modern, Civil and Military. Washington, D.C.: Quaker Press. OCLC 390804
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to State decorations of Austria since 1918.
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